The Team
We're a competitive bunch...On and off the job.
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Alisha Dixon HCP Advisor
Meet Alisha Dixon.
Take the heart of a true Texan, ixnay the boots, the Country Music taste and the drawl, and you’ll end up with Alisha. A traveler (and marine biologist) at heart, she’ll keep her promises to her clients as long as it doesn’t get her locked in jail. That’s a good policy to abide by.
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Brett Baird Senior HCP Advisor II
Meet Brett Baird.
He’s been on the Focus Staff team for more than four years, but came into the industry because some friends “said it was pretty cool.” He’s found his stride and, in his own words, “would do anything… ANYTHING!!! *within reason.” for his travelers. His advice to healthcare pros: “when in doubt, call me. I’ve always got your back.”
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Hind Haobsh A/R Coordinator
Meet Hind Haobsh.
Line up all the things she loves and here’s what you’ll find: The Oldies, movies, Agatha Christie, keeping a nice clean AP report and NOT sweets. Like, seriously no sweets.
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John Francis Senior HCP Advisor II
Meet John Francis.
With Focus Staff for over 8 years now, this U.S. Marine was built for a challenge. Which is why he’s so good at what he does: helping health care professionals find their perfect 13-week assignments and backing them up the whole way. Oh, and if you’re ever in a pizza eating contest with him, prepare to lose.
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Katie Salinas AR/AP Coordinator
Meet Katie Salinas.
This travel-lover found her way to the perfect job after being an office manager. She’s much better suited to working with Focus Staff. And her dog and cat (who get along just fine) both agree. Her advice to travelers: time management and organization are the keys to a happy life.
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Kristi Shanahan Senior HCP Advisor II
Meet Kristi Shanahan.
She’s been in customer service her whole career, so moving to Focus Staff was a no brainer. If you meet her, it’ll be pretty clear right up front what motivates her: her incredible daughter, Marlee. Another thing you’ll find is that her motto, “whatever it takes!” is the real deal.
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Kristie Smith VP of Advisory Services
Meet Kristie Smith.
She’s been with Focus Staff for more than 9 years. Yeah, you read it right…9 years! She got into the field because she thought helping people explore the country would be a fascinating way to live life. Exploring is in her blood. She moved to Dallas at 20 with nothing in her pockets. She comes with a wealth of knowledge, and a mastery of the staffing industry. Her best advice is to “ask as many questions as you can! I have or will find the answers!”
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Kyle Rhodes Founder / CEO
Meet Kyle Rhodes.
He’s the man who started it all at Focus Staff. An avid outdoor fan, when not captaining the ship, you’ll probably find Kyle trekking through the woods or running a tough mudder. But whatever he’s doing—helping healthcare professionals on their journey, coaching the team, or competing in some ridiculous fashion—he’s all-in. Oh, and he was born on a leap day, so that makes him roughly 9 years old.
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Myra Ramirez HCP Credentialing Analyst
Meet Myra Ramirez.
She’s a staffing agency veteran, but it wasn’t until she came to Focus Staff that she found her real home. She’s a true believer that you should have an advocate the whole way through the process, not just a salesperson who “sells” you on an assignment. Oh, and she married the boy she met at 8 years old.
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Patrick Aunkst Managing Partner
Meet Patrick Aunkst.
He’s been with Focus Staff for four years, but having owned and sold his own staffing agency, knows this industry inside and out. He’s a no-bullsh*tter from birth, but in his own words, is passionate about staffing because “I like the challenge of finding people jobs they don’t even know exist.”
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Salina Parada HCP Credentialing Analyst
Meet Salina Parada.
This self-proclaimed “walking melting pot”—Mexican, Cambodian, Laotian, Thai, and a lot more—always wanted to be a doctor, fascinated with gore and bloody scenes on TV. But alas, ’twas not for her. But Focus Staff is the perfect fit. Her best advice? Live life outside of the box. YOLO, right?
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Shelby Curry Operations Manager
Meet Shelby Curry.
She actually started here a temp, but quickly became invaluable to our operations, and is now Operations Manager. This southerner (ask her to say “bless your heart” sometime… seriously, it’s amazing!) really knows how to get things done around the office, which includes making our healthcare pros happy every… single… day!
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Winston Gobert HCP Advisor
Meet Winston Gobert.
He graduated Premed, but decided that helping healthcare professionals on their journeys was a better fit… not financially, of course. He’s a constantly-active guy, playing basketball, flag football, and on the Focus Staff softball team. He’s happy “only when my traveler is truly fulfilled.”
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Sean Robbins Manager of Advisory Services
Meet Sean Robbins.
He comes from the mortgage industry and hated how self-serving it seemed. Now with Focus Staff for over two years, he’s “finally at home” in a place he can actually make people’s lives better by helping them find their way on fascinating adventures. We’re just glad he’s not breaking any bones “successfully” skateboarding anymore.
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Darryl Clark HCP Advisor
Meet Darryl Clark.
Born and bred in Dallas, Darryl is a huge fan of the Mavericks. MFFL (that’s Mavs Fan for Life, for those not in the know). Before joining Focus Staff and getting into the staffing industry, Darryl was a Baptist Missionary, going on missionary trips to Albania and the Czech Republic. A life long student, Darryl is devoted to learning something new every day. You may find him sending a daily motivational quote, or thought for the day. Now, who doesn’t appreciate that?!?
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Holly Boyes HCP Advisor
Meet Holly Boyes.
Originally born in Houston Texas, and raised by two “amazingly supportive” parents. Holly claims her three best friends to be her younger brother and two older sisters. She graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in Public Relations. She loves hiking, and has struggled her way to the top of Colorado peaks. She is also a pretty solid golfer. Her true calling is to give back to others, and loves the opportunity to help healthcare professionals find amazing jobs.
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Jason Talbot Business Development Manager
Meet Jason Talbot.
Born at the southernmost tip of Texas, in Brownsville, just a couple miles from Mexico. Jason was a standout high school athlete and still has a passion for sports after his glory days. His interests are quite diverse, ranging from the fishing to golf, to concerts at the Dallas Symphony. On the weekend, you’ll likely find Jason pool side and grilling with his dog Kudu. Pulling from 6 years in the healthcare staffing industry, Jason is a whiz for finding new and exciting contract opportunities for our travelers!
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Shari Sally HCP Advisor
Meet Shari Sally.
A lifelong native of Dallas Texas, and Dallas Cowboys lover. Sunday football games, are what brought her family together weekly. She has been a successful nursing recruiter for 4 years now, and believes its her true calling. She loves helping people, both inside of work and out. When shes not busy finding amazing travel assignments for her folks, you may find her cooking, dancing, or traveling. You may also find her with her best friend; her 97 year old grandmother who she says is one of the most wise and funny people she has ever known.
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Mike Arkfeld VP of Business Development
Meet Mike Arkfeld.
A true Midwesterner, Mike was born in Iowa, raised in Omaha and just recently transplanted to the great state of Texas. He loves it so far, aside from the wickedly hot summers.
As the VP of Business Development, Mike is overseeing all things production-from recruiting to client acquisition and all the details in between. He is pulling from over twenty years experience in the staffing industry to make all this happen at Focus Staff.
When he’s not working on Focus’ growth, Mike will likely be spending time with his wife and two sons. At the end of the day, he finds great joy in what we do here, in that it greatly impacts patients and their needs if we can provide the staff to heal them.
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Laura Farah HCP Advisor
Meet Laura Farah.
Laura wasn’t always a Texan, as she was born in Tucson, Arizona. She loves healthcare recruiting and the ability to relate to her travelers-as she was an anesthesia tech previously. She says there is nothing more fun in this business, than finding her travelers their next adventure! She herself loves traveling, wine, and an occasional half marathon. Her favorite quote is ” Do the difficult things while they are easy, and do the great things while they are small.”
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Luis Gutierrez HCP Advisor
Meet Luis Gutierrez.
Luis is a Dallas native and loves nothing more than giving his travelers the news of a job offer. He loves cooking and is a true music nerd. He loves the Dallas Mavs, and his favorite movie is Rush Hour 2. One of his favorite quotes is by the late Anthony Bourdain speaking on travel “If I’m an advocate for anything, it’s to move. As far as you can, as much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply across the river. The extent to which you can walk in someone else’s shoes or at least eat their food, it’s a plus for everybody. Open your mind, get up off the couch, move.”
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Marissa Covarrubias Administrative Assistant
Meet Marissa Covarrubias.
Marissa is a Dallas native, hailing from Garland Texas. When not helping turn the gears at Focus Staff administratively, she does a ton of arts and crafts shows around the metroplex. She loves drawing, sculpting, painting, crafting, designing, and being the momma to a beautiful Shih Tzu.
She loves the idea of helping out our healthcare professionals, and helping them see the nation while doing something they love to do!
One of her favorite quotes is “If you have a dream, dont let anybody take it away!” -Selena Quintanalla
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Aviva Jenkins Senior HCP Advisor
Meet Aviva Jenkins.
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Anika Chowdhury Corporate Recruiter
Meet Anika Chowdhury.
Anika is Focus Staff’s Corporate Recruiter which means she is always looking for the best talent for us, at all times. She loves meeting new, exciting, and unique people everyday in her position. She says “everyone has a unique story, and background, and I absolutely love working with people.” She has a Bachelors in Psychology and is currently working on a Masters in Management.
She is fairly new to Texas, hailing from New Jersey originally. She loves to go bike riding during the weekend, spending time with her family, and she loves to watch horror movies by herself. Wait. What!? Who does that??
She too is a leap day baby, like Kyle Rhodes, the founder of Focus Staff. So that’s pretty darn good luck! She is currently 6 years old, but soon to turn 7. Big things around the corner! 😉
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Landon Robinson HCP Advisor
Meet Landon Robinson.
Landon is a Texas native, growing up in the small town of Denison Texas. Before recruiting, Landon actually taught songwriting and creative thinking at a Creative Arts School. He is a huge Dallas Mavs fan, Go LUKA Magic!
One of his favorite quotes is “Reaching for something that is not real, is the only way to make it so.”
He loves recruiting, because he loves to help people that help people. He says it makes him feel like Nick Fury from “The Avengers.” I’m not sure what that means, but sounds cool!
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Michael Hermansen HCP Advisor
Meet Michael Hermansen.
MIchael is originally from Motor City, Detroit Michigan! This would make him a Detroit Lions fan naturally. We won’t hold that against him however.
He loves to make life everyday as if it were an episode in a comedy series. He loves to laugh. When not involved in a comedy sitcom, he loves athletics, sporting events, and playing golf.
Being able to play a role in someone’s career and adventure is very rewarding to him.
HIs favorite quote is “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give” -Winston Churchill